WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. - Opening day didn't go as planned for the Daemen College women's tennis team as they dropped a 7-0 decision to the University of the District of Columbia in East Coast Conference action today. The match began outdoors at Williamsville South High School, but rain showers forced play to be suspended until the teams relocated to Miller Tennis Center where it resumed.  

HIGHLIGHTS

• The visiting Firebirds, who were picked second in the ECC preseason poll, swept through doubles play while dropping only a single set. 
• Singles play saw more of the same as the highly-touted Firebirds picked up points in all six positions.
• Six UDC players earned points in both singles and doubles play today: seniors Estefania Castillon and Marija Milic, junior Simone Parn, sophomore Joanna Skrzypczynska and freshmen Sofia Bellucco and Izabella Bilecova
• Freshman Lena Gruber (Munich, Germany) started slow in her collegiate debut, dropping the first set 6-0 in her No. 1 singles match against Parn, a first-team All-ECC player last season; Gruber battled back however and dropped the second set only 7-6. 

HEAD COACH KERRY MCDERMOTT POST-GAME COMMENTS
"It was a tough match. You have to give credit to UDC as they played well and we were a bit nervous."

Daemen College features the only NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.